Friday, November 8, 2013

The Best St. Louis Noise/Experimental Shows: November 2013

Deliberately shrill and mostly dense, "noise" has become a blanket term for bands who explore and experiment around the beaten path. The genre, like others, isn't without its share of hangups, but that's why we're here. Every month, we supply a short list of sure bets in St. Louis, ranging from needlessly complex to minimalist drone. Connect the weird to your ears.

Earlier this week, we here at RFT Music gave a thorough rundown of prominent noise and experimental acts in St. Louis. There were a few omissions of course, as we're not perfect, but reactions to the list invoked a heated discussion as to whether or not the bands listed should even be considered musicians. Do you have an opinion? Check out The 13 Best St. Louis Noise/Experimental Bands in 2013 and chime in on the comments below.

November is here with shopping season in full effect. Curb your consumerism with ambient works and world-class pianists. New Music Circle continues its stellar 55th season with an audio-visual showcase while the Schlafly Tap Room shows off new renovations to its show room. If you're one of the many who can't resist Black Friday sales, take solace in the few shows this month with free admission but don't forget to tip your bartender, or your sound artist. Let's drown out those awful X-Mas tunes with eerie electronics, together.

From a wall of boutique synth boxes brimming with countless inputs, bright orange patch cables protrude every which way, like a series of veins pumping blood through a robot. Experimental artist Kevin Harris coordinates this network of patches to generate a set of modular sounds to manipulate during his performances, which notably feature live, psychedelic video synthesis. At this show, expect video projections and panned quadrophonic sound from both Harris and the Kingston Family Singers. The latter is a Belleville collective of experimental sight and sound that utilizes everything from drone and harsh electronic noise to found sound and video. The artists will completely envelop onlookers with this enclosed installation, so prepare for a surreal experience.